The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-12-23
FREE TRADE AND SUGAR TAX

FREE TRADE AND SUGAR. TAX.
If the free trade journals, which are
clamorous for the abolition of taxes
on the necessaries and comforts of
life, would insist on the removal of the
sugar duty, which burdens more
families in the United States than on
any other, they would have a better
show of consistency. The free traders
are largely found in the ranks of the
Democratic party, hence their tender
ness of the feelings of the small but
always reliable number of Democrats
who ENJOY the government monopoly
of producing sugar in Louisiana. The
vocation of these Southern sugar grow.
ers would be gone if the bounty allow
ed them were taken away and the
duties Oil imported sugar abolished.
When the question is asked on what
other imported article would the re-
moval of the duty conduce so general
~ to the advantages of the whole
people, the answer is not forthcoming.
The charge that the removal of the
sugar duty would be an abandonment
of the home protective policy is too
puerile to mislead any reading man
Protection of home industry for the
benefit of only fraction of the PEG.
pie, at the expense of nearly the whole
population, is simply an absurdity.
The Democrats who are clamorous for
reduction of the tariff. and yet op-
posing the abolition of the sugar duty,
are Influenced no doubt by the fact
that sugar is the product of Demo-
cratic states, and they fear that inter-
fering with the tax will damage the
party. The sugar industry has been
encouraged by the government by a
high protective duty from an early
period. 1t is an industry confined to
only limited portion of this country.
The soil. climate and condition of this
country compare unfavorably with
other foreign regions for the produc.
tion of sugar. The United States do
not produce one-tenth of the sugar re.
auired for home consumption, and
there is no probability that they ever
will. The sugar interest has been
literally treated by the Government
of the United States. Taking the
figures from another and reliable
source, the following facts appear:
Chow the sugar industry has been
protected may be seen by looking over
the several tariff acts of Congress, be.
ginning in 1916. Under the act of
that year, duty of cents pound on
raw and IL cents on loaf sugar was
imposed. These rates remained till
1912, when they were changed to d
and cents. Then came the tariff re.
vision by the Democratic free traders
in 1916, and all imported sugars were
taxed 80 per cent. While other indus.
tries were exposed to the sharpest
foreign competition, the Louisiana
planters were still encouraged by a
protective tariff. Such has continued
to be the policy of the Government
Under the existing tariff, the duty
which varies somewhat on different
qualities of sguar, is equal to at least
so per cent. Yet, in spite of ali this
long continued protection, the produc-
ton of sugar in the United States has
of late years diminished instead of in
creasng, because it is one of those in.
dustries in which the United States
by reason of its climate and labor con.
ditions, is not fitted to compete"
If any reasons besides of political
party considerations can be given why
the sugar tax should not be abolished
let them be stated.